Al Shabab have signed the Brazilian forward Welker Marcal de Almeida on a six-month loan as replacement for his compatriot, Julio Cezar.
The 25 year old, popularly known as Kieza, was last season's top scorer in the Brazilian second division with 21 goals for Nautico, where he was on loan from Cruzeiro.
"Kieza has completed his medical and has already joined the training and now it is for the coach to decide when he wants to use him," said Matar Surour, the chief executive officer of the Al Shabab Football Company.
Paulo Bonamigo, the Shabab coach, said after their scoreless draw with Al Wahda in the Pro League that they were looking for a new striker to spearhead the team's attack.
"We want to a player to score goals for us," Bonamigo said. "Julio had done a wonderful job for us in the past one-and-a-half season but it's time to move on with a younger and speedy forward."
Cezar, 28, is linked with a loan move to Ajman but the player wants to move abroad. The Brazilian has scored only five league goals in 10 games so far, and had 10 in 18 matches in his first season. Shabab are top of the Etisalat Cup Group B on 13 points and are fourth in the league on 20 points after 12 games, seven behind the leaders Al Ain.
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